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The help on your shelf

There’s no shortage of self-help books on the market that promise to assist readers with every area of their lives. But how can you sort through the rows upon rows of tomes on the shelves to find the best ones on the market?

The help on your shelf

There’s no shortage of self-help books on the market that promise to assist readers with every area of their lives. But how can you sort through the rows upon rows of tomes on the shelves to find the best ones on the market? The following list, though not all inclusive, is a great place to start.

“How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie: This book dates back to 1936, and as one of the first books in the genre to become a bestseller, it has earned a spot in the self-help cannon. And it’s no wonder why Carnegie’s advice has staying power: Everyone wants to be liked, and “How to Win Friends and Influence People” gives advice on how to get people to like you in every area of your life, and how to make the people in your life feel appreciated.

“The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle: If you want to live a happy life, according to Tolle, you need to step out of your head and live in the moment. In “The Power of Now,” Tolle writes that if we relinquish our attachment to certain thoughts, and stop overanalyzing our lives, we have the potential to gain enlightenment, happiness and inner peace.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen R. Covey: In this book, leadership expert Covey gives a road map for success, which not only includes practical steps for becoming more successful, but also tips on how to change your mindset so you can progress through those steps.

“The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale: It’s hard sometimes to have a positive mindset, and Peale’s book gives guidance on how to conquer this enormous task, while creating more happiness and less worry in our lives. In addition, he explains that because of the mind-body connection, practicing more positive thinking can actually increase your energy levels and improve your overall physical health.

“Emotional Intelligence” by Daniel Goleman: Although we’re taught from an early age that our IQ is an important way of measuring our potential, Goleman believes that without emotional intelligence, or EQ, all of the promise that comes with a high IQ may mean very little in terms of actual results. In this book, Goleman outlines the importance of managing our emotions and illustrates how these vital skills can help us have success in our work, as well as interpersonal relationships.

“How to Stop Worrying and Start Living” by Dale Carnegie: If you have problems with anxiety, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living is the self-help book for you. And Carnegie would know: He explains that he also suffered from anxiety, describing himself as “one of the unhappiest lads in New York,” until he learned methods for breaking free of the worry habit and finding more peace, happiness, and energy.

“Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It” by Kamal Ravikant: Although the idea of self-love may sound self-indulgent, Ravikant explains why it’s so important for us to love ourselves and how self-love is actually the foundation for a fulfilling life. And when we don’t love ourselves, the book warns, we run the risk of allowing our negative thoughts to run rampant, which can lead to self-sabotage and general unhappiness.

“The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck: “Life is difficult,” Peck writes in the first line of “The Road Less Traveled,” but he outlines ways to get through it. And as the title suggests, the path will not be an easy one. However, by taking Peck’s advice, readers can learn how to have more fulfilling relationships that are based on seeing the humanity in other people. Some of the topics that Peck tackles include how to nurture healthy romantic relationships and become a more sensitive parent.

“Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time” by Brian Tracy: Procrastination may not be one of the seven deadly sins, but it can wreak havoc in our lives just the same if we allow task after task to pile up without making any progress. In this book, Tracy gives advice on how to get out of a cycle of procrastination by prioritizing what needs to be done, breaking down large tasks into smaller pieces so they’re more manageable, and determining the root cause of your procrastination.